Research Project Instructions

Research Project Instructions: The research project is a team work and as such it will require team work. With each team member getting the same mark, it is important to choose team members that will work and communicate efficiently and effectively with each other! Teams cannot have less than 3 members or more than 5. The project is intended to be a research document focusing on a particular topic. Topics will be recommended by the professor. Topics of your choice may be accepted if the instructor is convinced of their importance and of your motivation to treat that subject.

The following requirements and deadlines must be met:
• A final team must be created during Session 3;
• A final topic will have to be communicated in writing (both in hard copy and by email) to
the instructor by Session 4;
• On that document the following information is required.
▪ Name and student number of each team member
▪ Email of the team Leader
▪ Name of the topic chosen and why in a few lines
▪ How the team was constituted. In other words have you worked together
before? Is it a proximity choice i.e. students seated next to each other in
the first class (this method is not recommended)
▪ List of the main strengths and weaknesses of each team member
▪ A name for your team that symbolizes your “organizational culture”
The format of the research project is as follows:
Introduction: 1 page maximum summarizing the objectives of your project
Theoretical Framework and Topic Statement: In this section you are expected to describe in detail the context of the research. You will also highlight the questions that, in your opinion, are important for the field of Psychology and that need answers. In this section you will show a clear understanding of the topic you chose.
Methodology: Here you will describe the methods you chose to use in order to reach your objective which is to find pertinent answers to the questions you developed in the topic statement. In the case of an empirical project (in which, for example, you would need to give a questionnaire to individuals or companies) you will be required to describe the sample’s characteristics (average age, gender representation, number of employees, questionnaire used, and all other important characteristics). In other words, you will be required to show that you know what you are doing. In your case we recommend the use of existing data, called secondary source data.
Results: This section will contain all the pertinent statistical information and any other relevant findings.

Discussion: The most important section of your work. You will analyze the results of your study. You will show a clear understanding of the nature and significance of your findings. Your analytical skills will clearly be of central importance to this section of your research.
Recommendations: Based upon the critical analysis of your findings you will be required to provide recommendations that, in your opinion, will help improve the field of Psychology.
Conclusion: One page maximum in which, in point form where possible, you will summarize your findings.
Abstract: One page in which you summarize your research. It will include the objectives, methodology and the findings.
Bibliography: A list of the readings, books, articles, internet documents etc, used for the research project.
You will be expected to submit the final document professionally presented with a cover page including:
▪ Title
▪ Date
▪ Name, student number and email of each group member ▪ Name of the course.
▪ Name of the professor
As a separate hand in I will also require a clear description of the tasks performed by each member.
The project will be graded primarily on your team’s capacity to produce a professional work based on a sound understanding of the problems at hand, the capacity to select the right methods to answer the important questions, and most importantly, your analytical skills.

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